Motor vehicle central console

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle central console comprising an enclosure having a base and four lateral faces arising from the base forming an opening opposite to said base, and at least one lid comprising a recto face and a verso face, having means for coupling to the enclosure co-operating with complementary coupling means borne by the enclosure, and at least partially closing said opening. The lid is completely removable. Said coupling means of the lid are completely and simply disconnectable from said complementary coupling means of the enclosure. In the mounted position, the coupling means of the lid co-operate with the complementary coupling means of the enclosure, regardless of which face of the lid is facing the base of the enclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle central console. Inparticular, the invention relates to a central console disposed betweenthe front seats of the motor vehicle and having a movable lid.

[0002] The central console of a motor vehicle must fulfill safetycriteria, especially with regard to rigid connection to the vehicle incase of abrupt braking or impact. For this reason, the components of thecentral console, such as, for example, a lid, an arm rest, or a cupholder are permanently attached to the body of the console. Thesecomponents may of course execute relative movements with respect to theconsole, but those movements are limited rotational or translationalmovements without breakage of the permanent rigid connection to the bodyof the console.

[0003] One of the requirements of motor vehicle manufacturers withregard to a motor vehicle central console comprises the incorporation ofa maximum of storage functions, optionally with an arm rest function,within a specific space, having optimum ergonomics with respect to allthe occupants of the vehicle. The technical solutions fulfilling thisrequirement are limited by the fact of the permanent rigid connectionsto the body of the console. These permanent rigid connections limit thepossibilities of modularity of the central console.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] One of the aims of the present invention is that of proposing acentral console in which the modularity is substantially improved.

[0005] Another aim of the present invention is to propose a centralconsole in which the accessibility to the storage functions issubstantially improved for the rear occupants without deterioration forthe front occupants.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a motor vehicle centralconsole comprising:

[0007] an enclosure comprising a base, a front face, a rear face and twolateral faces arising from the base, said faces forming an openingopposite to said base, and

[0008] at least one lid comprising a recto face and a verso face, havingmeans for coupling to the enclosure co-operating with complementarycoupling means borne by the enclosure, and at least partially closingsaid opening.

[0009] According to the invention:

[0010] the lid is completely removable, said coupling means of the lidbeing completely and simply disconnectable from said complementarycoupling means of the enclosure, and

[0011] in the mounted position, said coupling means of the lidco-operate with said complementary coupling means of the enclosure,regardless of which face of the lid is facing towards the base of theenclosure.

[0012] Said coupling means and said complementary coupling meanscomprise:

[0013] first rotation means and first complementary rotation meansdefining a first axis of rotation of the lid relative to the enclosure,and

[0014] second rotation means and second complementary rotation meansdefining a second axis of rotation of the lid relative to the enclosuresubstantially parallel to the first axis of rotation,

[0015] said first and second rotation means being completely and simplydisconnectable from said first and respectively second complementaryrotation means to respectively permit the rotation of the lid about thesecond axis of rotation, and the rotation of the lid about the firstaxis of rotation.

[0016] The console may advantageously comprise at least third rotationmeans defining a third axis of rotation of the lid relative to theenclosure, intersecting with the first and second axes of rotation.

[0017] In one embodiment, the coupling means and the complementarycoupling means comprise four “Ω”-groove and journal systems forming, inpairs, two substantially parallel axes.

[0018] In another embodiment, the coupling means and the complementarycoupling means comprise four ball-and-socket joint systems forming, inpairs, two series of two substantially parallel axes, the axes of oneseries being perpendicular to the axes of the other series.

[0019] In another embodiment, the lid comprises a peripheral frameincluding said coupling means, and a secondary lid comprising secondarycoupling means co-operating with complementary secondary coupling meansborne by said peripheral frame.

[0020] According to another feature of the invention, the lid comprisesat least one lateral wall arising from one of the faces of the lidforming with said face a receptacle.

[0021] According to another feature, the console further comprisesadded-on functional means having means for connection to complementaryconnection means borne by the lid.

[0022] In one embodiment, the connection means of the added-onfunctional means are clip-in pins and the complementary connection meansborne by the lid are holes into which said clip-in pins are clipped.

[0023] A first advantage of the present invention results from thereversibility of the lid of the console, permitting improved modularity.For example, the recto face of the lid may have a surface completing theaesthetics of the console with a surface substantially in the extensionof, and following the shape of the opening, and a verso surfacecomprising functional means for small article storage or a cup holder.In order to be able to use both faces of the lid while maintaining thelid function, the lid is completely removable and comprises means forcoupling to the enclosure functioning regardless of which face of thelid it is desired to use.

[0024] Another advantage of the present invention results from theimprovement of the accessibility of the storage spaces regardless of theoccupant. This is due to the coupling means of the lid and thecomplementary coupling means of the enclosure providing a plurality ofaxes of rotation for the lid. Optimally, provision may be made to openthe lid along four axes, parallel in pairs, together forming aparallelogram substantially defining the four sides of the lid.

[0025] Another advantage of the present invention results from thesubstantially lower cost of the modularity function compared with thehigh costs of the modularity in the systems of rotation and/ortranslation with permanent rigid connection that are used. For thisreason it is possible to propose modular consoles on “economy” vehicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Further advantages and features of the present invention willbecome clear from the following description with reference to theappended drawings, in which:

[0027]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a console according to thepresent invention.

[0028]FIGS. 2A to 2D are diagrammatic views illustrating themodulability of the lid of the console according to the invention.

[0029]FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrammatic views illustrating theaccessibility of the console according to the invention.

[0030]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view according to the invention of aportion of a central console lid according to the invention in a“ball-and-socket” embodiment.

[0031]FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view according to the invention of aportion of a central console lid according to the invention in a “frame”embodiment.

[0032]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view in section of a portion of a centralconsole lid comprising added-on functional means according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The central console according to the invention comprises anenclosure 1 having a base 2, and four lateral faces 3 arising from thebase 2 and forming an opening 4 opposite to the base 2. The enclosure 1is generally removably or fixedly associated with the floor of the motorvehicle between the front seats (not shown). The enclosure 1 defines astorage space 5. In one embodiment, the space 5 may be divided into aplurality of sub-spaces 50 by walls 6 that are removable or fixed withrespect to the enclosure 1 (cf. FIGS. 2A to 2D).

[0034] The console according to the invention comprises at least one lid7 having a recto face 10 and a verso face 11. The lid at least partiallycloses the opening 4, one of the faces 10, 11 then facing towards thebase 2 of the enclosure 1. The lid 7 is associated with the enclosure 1by coupling means 8 a, 8 b co-operating with complementary couplingmeans 9 a, 9 b borne by the enclosure 1. The coupling means 8 a, 8 b ofthe lid 7 and the complementary coupling means 9 a, 9 b of the enclosure1 are such that they can be disconnected simply and completely from oneanother. In other words, the lid 7 is completely removable. By “simplyand completely” it is meant that the full removability of the lid 7constitutes one of the current operational functions of the centralconsole accessible to all the occupants of the vehicle, as opposed to alid which can be dismantled by the use of tools during exceptionaloperations of the maintenance or repair type.

[0035] The coupling means 8 a, 8 b of the lid 7 are such that theyco-operate with the complementary coupling means 9 a, 9 b of theenclosure regardless of which face 10, 11 of the lid 7 is facing towardsthe base 2.

[0036] The lid of the console according to the invention, in theposition mounted on the enclosure, can pivot equally well about at leasttwo axes of rotation 20, 21, 22, 23; for this purpose, said couplingmeans 8 a, 8 b and said complementary coupling means 9 a, 9 b comprise

[0037] first rotation means 8 a and first complementary rotation means 9a, defining a first axis of rotation 20 of the lid 7 relative to theenclosure 1, and

[0038] second rotation means 8 b and second complementary rotation means9 b , defining a second axis of rotation 21 of the lid 7 relative to theenclosure 1, said second axis of rotation 21 being substantiallyparallel to the first axis of rotation 20.

[0039] According to the invention, said first rotation means 8 a arecompletely and simply disconnectable from said first complementaryrotation means 9 a to permit the rotation of the lid 7 about the secondaxis of rotation 21, and said second rotation means 8 b are completelyand simply disconnectable from said second complementary rotation means9 b to permit the rotation of the lid 7 about the first axis of rotation20.

[0040] According to another feature said first rotation means 8 a andsaid second rotation means 8 b are such that they can co-operate equallywell with either of said first 9 a or second 9 b complementary rotationmeans.

[0041] For this reason, the second axis of rotation 21 may also bedefined by the co-operation of the first rotation means 8 a with thesecond complementary rotation means 9 b , and the first axis of rotation20 may also be defined by the co-operation of the second rotation means8 b with the first complementary rotation means 9 a (cf. lid 7 b inFIGS. 2C and 2D, or 3B and 3C).

[0042] FIGS. 1 to 3C represent a console according to the invention inwhich the coupling means 8 a, 8 b and the complementary coupling means 9a, 9 b comprise four “Ω”- groove 9 a and journal 9 b systems forming, inpairs, the two substantially parallel axes 20, 21. In the drawings, the“Ω”-grooves are borne by the enclosure 1 and the journals are borne bythe lid 7. The reverse assembly, of course, also forms part of thepresent invention.

[0043] The console with double axes of rotation, if the axes 20, 21 areperpendicular to the direction of advance of the motor vehicle, allowseasy accessibility to the contents of the space 5, 50 of the console bythe front passengers by rotation of the lid about one of the axes ofrotation, and easy accessibility to the contents of the space 5, 50 ofthe console by the rear passengers by rotation of the lid about theother of the axes of rotation. FIGS. 3A to 3C propose some possibilitiesfor opening a console according to the invention comprising two lids 7a, 7 b.

[0044] In the embodiment shown partially in FIG. 4, the coupling meansand the complementary coupling means comprise four ball-and-socket jointsystems forming, in pairs, two series of two substantially parallelaxes, the axes 20, 21 of one series being perpendicular to the axes 22of the other series.

[0045] In another embodiment shown partially in FIG. 5, the lidcomprises a peripheral frame 25, and a secondary lid 70 comprisingsecondary coupling means 80 co-operating with complementary secondarycoupling means 90 borne by said peripheral frame 25.

[0046] Opening handles 14 a, 14 b are provided so as to facilitate theopening of the lid 7.

[0047] One of the advantages of a console according to the invention isto allow the user to use either of the faces 10, 11 of the lid 7. In anembodiment shown in FIGS. 2A to 3D, one of the faces 10, 11 of the lid 7a, 7 b comprises at least one lateral wall 12 arising from one 11 of thefaces 10, 11 of the lid 7 and forms with said face 11 a receptacle 13.In the position in FIG. 2A, the lids 7 a, 7 b have their recto face 10completing the aesthetics of the console with a surface substantially inthe extension of, and following the shape of the opening 4 of theconsole. In FIGS. 2C and 2D, at least one of the lids 7 a, 7 b has beenturned to the verso side, and provides at least one storage receptacle13.

[0048] In one embodiment the console further comprises added-onfunctional means 33, 34 having means for connection 31 to complementaryconnection means 30 borne by the lid 7. These functional means 33, 34are, by way of non-limiting example, an arm rest or arm rests 33, orholding members 34 for articles such as a mobile telephone, etc.

[0049] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the connection means31 of the added-on functional means 33, 34 are clip-in pins 31 and thecomplementary connection means 30 borne by the lid 7 are through holes30 into which said clip-in pins 31 are clipped.

1. A motor vehicle central console comprising: an enclosure comprising abase, and four lateral faces arising from the base, said faces formingan opening opposite to said base, at least one lid comprising a rectoface and a verso face, having means for coupling to the enclosureco-operating with complementary coupling means borne by the enclosure,and at least partially closing said opening, the lid being completelyremovable, said coupling means of the lid being completely and simplydisconnectable from said complementary coupling means of the enclosure,and in the mounted position, said coupling means of the lid co-operatewith said complementary coupling means of the enclosure, regardless ofwhich face of the lid is facing towards the base of the enclosure,wherein said coupling means and said complementary coupling meanscomprise: first rotation means and first complementary rotation meansdefining a first axis of rotation of the lid relative to the enclosure,and second rotation means and second complementary rotation meansdefining a second axis of rotation of the lid relative to the enclosuresubstantially parallel to the first axis of rotation, said first andsecond rotation means being completely and simply disconnectable fromsaid first and respectively second complementary rotation means topermit, respectively, the rotation of the lid about the second axis ofrotation, and the rotation of the lid about the first axis of rotation.2. The central console according to claim 1, wherein said first rotationmeans and said second rotation means co-operate equally well with eitherof said first or second complementary rotation means.
 3. The centralconsole according to claim 1, which comprises at least third rotationmeans defining a third axis of rotation of the lid relative to theenclosure, intersecting with the first and second axes of rotation. 4.The central console according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means andthe complementary coupling means comprise four “Ω”-groove and journalsystems forming, in pairs, two substantially parallel axes.
 5. Thecentral console according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means and thecomplementary coupling means comprise four ball-and-socket joint systemsforming, in pairs, two series of two substantially parallel axes, theaxes of one series being perpendicular to the axes of the other series.6. The central console according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises aperipheral frame including said coupling means, and a secondary lidcomprising secondary coupling means co-operating with complementarysecondary coupling means borne by said peripheral frame.
 7. The centralconsole according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises at least onelateral wall arising from one of the faces of the lid forming with saidface a receptacle.
 8. The central console according to claim 1, whichfurther comprises added-on functional means having connection meansco-operating with complementary connection means borne by the lid. 9.The central console according to claim 8, wherein the connection meansof the added-on functional means are clip-in pins and the complementaryconnection means borne by the lid are holes into which said clip-in pinsare clipped.